The Heaton File

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (Titus 1:5-9)

An Elder Is A Bishop

Titus is not mentioned in the book of Acts, which covers much of Paul’s ministry throughout the Roman Empire. Paul mentions him in three of his letters (2 Corinthians, Galatians, and 2 Timothy) and includes a letter to Titus. When Paul left Crete, he left Titus there to set in order things lacking in the churches of Crete. One of the main goals of Paul was for Titus to establish the New Testament church according to the pattern given to them by the Holy Spirit. As the early church grew, there were growing pains as the saints came to understand the role of the church, its leadership, authority, and pattern established by the Holy Spirit. Titus was there in Crete to put those things together.

Every church is lacking something. One of the most needful things for the churches in Crete was the establishment of men to be elders or bishops. Paul and Barnabas had gone throughout Asia Minor appointing elders in every church. This would be a constant pattern for Paul to establish the church as God wanted it to be. Paul wrote to Timothy, instructing him about the role of those who would be called bishops. Specific qualities are given to Timothy and Titus about the men who would shepherd the local flock of God’s people. These were not ordinary men in many ways, as they had to be married, fathers, men of good character, and examples to all. Their role was to lead the local church to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and care for each member. They were called elders, bishops, shepherds, overseers, and pastors.

An elder and a bishop (overseer) are the same thing. These men hold a leadership role in the local church to tend and care for the souls in their care. They are not exalted men wearing flowing robes of distinction. The world has perverted the idea of a bishop to be a person of exalted stature who exercises authority over a diocese, including several churches. Nothing is further from the truth. There is never a record in the New Testament of a bishop being anything but an elder who shepherds one local congregation. He must meet the qualities of character shown to Timothy and Titus. Any deviation from this is an error and false doctrine.

Many people often mistakenly call a preacher a pastor. This is another term that religious groups have perverted. A pastor is an elder or bishop who has followed the guidelines of scripture shown to Timothy and Titus. Preachers are not pastors. On a few occasions, a preacher may become an elder, bishop, or pastor if he is following the model set forth by the Holy Spirit, but the general use of calling a preacher a pastor is misapplying scripture. It should be noted that calling a man “Reverend” is an affront to the name of God. The only time “reverend” is used in scripture; it denotes the name of God.

Names are important. The religious world is free with the use of names that are not found in the Bible. Misapplying roles of the church is an egregious insult to the character of God because it flies in the face of His holy word. Honest Bible students will hold accountable those who misuse scripture. An elder is a bishop. A pastor is an elder. He oversees one flock as a shepherd. His qualities are in line with what Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus. Any deviation from this is not the New Testament church. Does it make a difference? It matters to God, and it should matter to you.

Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. (Psalm 39:4)

We Are But Frail Creatures

Young men think they will live forever, and old men understand how frail life is. The spirit of youth clouds the vision of knowing the reality of life, that little time is given for a man to walk upon this earth. From a young age, life seems like an endless adventure filled with expectations and accomplishments. The energy of a youthful eye cannot see what is beyond the horizon because everything is about the here and now. Life is measured by the vitality of an endless day that stretches over time without end. There is no knowledge of the trials of life, heartaches, disappointments, and realities of growing old. Far removed is the eye of wisdom that knows how short life is measured and that death has always been near; but a whisper away.

The old must die, the young can die. When an old man dies, he has lived a full life. A young man dies, and tears of grief question how he could be cut down at the prime of life. The reality is, there is no difference between the old and the young. Life is not justified by age. Babies die in childbirth. Old men die after many years lived. The grave is an impartial judge. It is difficult for a young man to have the life experience that comes with age. With age comes wisdom, but not for all. An old man can refuse to accept his time on earth and seek for youth in his later years, but he fights a losing battle. God has ordained death for all men, and for most, it is accomplished through the aging process. An old man who seeks to relive his youth is a fool. Young men are young, and old men are old. Life is measured in this form by the hand of God.

Wisdom comes from understanding how frail life is. The psalmist David examined life and found that youthfulness serves a purpose, but it is fleeting. True knowledge comes from looking at life from the viewpoint of the Creator. To truly understand the nature of life, God must be acknowledged. Every man comes into the world by the hand of God, and everyone leaves this world by the decree of God. God gives life to the eternal spirit dwelling in a mortal body. Because of sin, God has limited the days of man. Death is certain, and nothing man can do will stop that. David understood the complexity of life, which must be measured to know its length. After seeing how short life is, the psalmist concludes what God wants man to know: life is a vapor that appears for a moment and then it is gone. That is how frail life is.

When a man looks at life as God gives life, he can understand how valuable each moment is. The frailty of life is heard when parents see their children grown and remark, “Where did childhood go?” Measuring life shows how quickly the world turns when milestones are reached in life. Graduation from school, marriage, children, grandchildren, retirement, and old age. It seems but for a moment. How frail life is. The frailty of life is highlighted when death invades the heart, with so many dying at a young age and at an old age. Time marches slowly as the expectation of many more years is now few. Frailty of body and mind creeps in. Challenges increase. The darkness of old age overshadows the heart.

David knew how to live each day for the God he served. The Holy Spirit said David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. Death is called a sleep – a rest, because life is fragile. When a man dies, he goes to his long home, an everlasting home, the eternal home. The contrast is stark. Life is but a vapor. Eternal life is forever. What once was measured and frail is now unmeasured and secure. Count your days. They are fleeting. Life is a brief moment and then eternity. Only God can help you measure your days to find salvation in eternal life.

O Lord, correct me, but with justice; not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing. Pour out Your fury on the Gentiles, who do not know You, and on the families who do not call on Your name; for they have eaten up Jacob, devoured him and consumed him, and made his dwelling place desolate. (Jeremiah 10:24-25)

Families That Do Not Call On God

The tragedy of the human race is the failure of the home. Nothing is more central and foundational to society than the union of a man and woman creating a home. Every nation is crafted from the substance of the home. If the home is full of goodness, the nation will be a place of goodness. When the home turns away from God, the nation will soon follow. The law of the home becomes the law of the land. Morality is not a national spirit; it is a seed that grows from the ground of the home. Immorality grows the same way. In the early days of the earth, the family became corrupt, and every thought was evil continually. Before long, the world was corrupted, and God destroyed it.

God created the home to be a perfect union of man and woman joined in the holy relationship of godliness. Satan destroyed that when he tempted Eve. The home has always been the bulwark of truth and righteousness, with honor given to the headship of the home. Under the Law of Moses, striking the parents brought death. Cursing the father or mother was met with the death penalty. The Lord was sending a message to all generations about the hallowed nature of the home and that it was to be honored and respected. If the home turned away from God, He turned away from the home.

Jeremiah’s message in the last days of Israel was for the Lord to bring His fury on the Gentiles and on the families who do not call on the name of the Lord. Israel was destroyed because the people lacked the knowledge of God, turning away from the holiness of God to the embrace of an immoral and decadent world. God’s wrath is brought against the home that does not honor Him. It is futile to establish a home without putting God first. Without the guidance of the Creator of the home, there can be no happiness or joy. The home is destitute and empty.

Most homes do not have God. Some claim to have God in their midst, but they do not follow His word. Many claim to say, “Lord, Lord,” but do not do the will of the Father. They are ‘religious’ but only as a prosthetic that is worn to satisfy the longing for acceptance, not realizing God does not accept them. Jesus taught the disciples that most homes are ungodly. He said that most people will be lost to an eternal flame. Those people He spoke about came from homes where God was denied. A family that does not call upon the name of the Lord is doomed to face the wrath of God.

Every home has the opportunity to know God. When the husband and wife or father and mother choose to give their lives to a dedicated service of putting God first in everything, the central altar of the home is truth and righteousness based on the word of God. The home is made up of sinners who need the grace of God. Successful homes are those that instill in their children a love for God at all costs. A united family in Christ stands with the character of God’s divine image impressed upon their hearts. Be warned – God will bring His wrath upon the home that does not call upon His name. He will bless the home that seeks Him first in all things.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

What Satan Knows

Satan, the fiery red dragon, the serpent of old called the devil is powerful. He has a clear agenda and a defined purpose driven by his rebellion. Jesus came to earth to destroy the works of the devil. When Jesus rose from the dead, Satan knew something. He knew he was totally defeated. There was nothing he could do against Jesus, although he tried innumerable times while Jesus walked as a man. Did Satan consider the death of Jesus (God) a victory? If so, it was short-lived. God had told the devil that he would bruise the heel of the Seed, but that his head would be bruised. Everything came to pass when Jesus died and rose on the third day.

Paul warned the early Christians of the power of Satan, describing him as the master of evil principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The devil is not a being to be taken lightly or ignored. Any day with the devil is an evil day. The fiery darts of the dragon are powerful. His wily ways are unscrupulous and very effective. Satan destroyed the relationship between God and man when he successfully tempted Eve in the garden. The world was destroyed in a flood through the power of the devil. Only Noah and his family survived. Satan destroyed the apple of God’s eye when he brought Israel down. The devil was bold to tempt Jesus at the beginning of His ministry with three powerful allurements. He failed.

Satan is powerful, but his power is limited. When he went after the man Job, God limited what he could do. Jesus showed His power over Satan in healing demon-possessed souls. All the demons obeyed the voice of Jesus without hesitation. James tells us the minions of Satan believe and tremble. The Bible is the manual for dealing with the influence of Satan. God gave man a book to read and understand the enemy he is up against. With greater knowledge comes greater power to withstand the pressures of the evil one. If a man resists the devil, the old lion will flee.

The apostle John wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ nearly two thousand years ago. His message was sent to the seven churches in Asia to exhort, rebuke, correct, and challenge the early saints to walk faithfully before the Lord. The early Christians were suffering under the heavy hand of the Roman Government, religious persecution, and the influence of an ungodly world. In the Revelation, the Lord reveals to His people that He knows their pain and suffering and that He has heard their prayers. One of the most important lessons they needed to learn was not to fear the devil. He is the dragon behind the persecution, but the good news comes at the end of the story. The devil will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Satan is not unaware of his future. It has been written down on the divine ledger for more than two thousand years for the devil to read time and time again until that last and final day. All wicked people who die will be surprised when they find themselves in a place of torment. No one really expects God to exercise His wrath with an eternal Hell – but He will. Everyone in Hell will know why they are there and will agree that God’s justice is righteous. There will be no arguments made for ignorance or leniency. But the devil? It will be no surprise to him and his angels. They know exactly where they are going and why. The time has not been set yet, but that day is coming. That will be the only surprise for Satan.

There is part of faith that should be reassuring, knowing the enemy of God’s people is a powerless and a condemned being with literally no future. Nothing is going to change the course of Satan’s path. The devil and his demons believe and tremble and are damned to Hell, and they know it. God shows the victory in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the greatest victory is that death, Hades, and the devil will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. They will never be released from that eternal torment. The power to seduce people to rebel against God is gone. There will be no more tears, sorrow, pain, or suffering – all brought about as a consequence of sin. When you are being tempted to sin, look Satan square in the face and remind him where he is doing. Remind him often! He knows!

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:25-28)

Carry The Bride Across The Threshold

Have you ever wondered why the guy is supposed to carry his bride over the threshold? Blame the Romans. They believed that good and evil spirits fought for control at a home’s entrance. For good to prevail, Romans felt you must enter a room with your right foot first. Romans concluded that a new bride in a highly emotional state might be careless and forget about the “right foot” stuff. To prevent possible tragedy, they decided it was best for the groom to carry his bride across the threshold.

The Romans were very superstitious people, basing life decisions on concepts foreign to truth, but the principles have merit. A newlywed couple begins a life together with commitment, trust, and hope for the future. Unbeknownst to the Romans, what they suggested is a principle that is important to the establishment of the home. God created the man before He created the woman. The woman was taken out of man to be his helper or helpmate in life. This relationship changed when the serpent, the devil, deceived Eve. Part of the consequence of her actions is that God said her desire would always be for her husband, and he would rule over her.

Paul taught the Ephesian Christians that, just as Christ is the Head of the church, so the husband is the head of the wife. This role is not one where the man is a tyrant or bully. He is to love, cherish, and nourish his wife as his own flesh. The husband has the leadership role in the family according to God’s divine pattern. He must take on that role of leadership to guide the family in the way of the Lord. There is a figure by which the man must carry the bride across the threshold of the home to show his willingness to lead the family in the way of God.

There can only be one head in the home. The wife is a very important part of that leadership. If a man cannot understand his role, he must examine the way Christ died for the church, loves the church, and guides the church by His leadership. The husband must take responsibility for leading the family. As a husband, his role is to help his wife find eternal life. A father will do everything in his power to ensure his family discovers the joys of salvation in Christ. As head of the family, that is his work and passion.

No one has a greater responsibility than a man who takes on the role of husband. He must make that right “first step” to ward off the influences of ungodliness. His goal is to protect his family from the wiles of the devil while protecting himself. It begins with the right “first step.” That step is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Based upon a study of the word of God, the man will lead his family in the grace of God.

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

Three Descriptions Of The Church

Two thousand years ago, the church of Christ was established on the Day of Pentecost by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus died for the church and is the only Head of the church. Before time began, God set in motion the scheme of redemption to save men through the church. The world says the church is not important. Men have corrupted the nature of the church beyond what God intended. The Bible clearly defines the church as the house of God, the church of the living God, and the pillar and ground of truth.

On the Day of Pentecost, the church was established, and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. The church is the house of God with God as Father, Jesus as the older brother, and the saints as brothers and sisters. There is a familial association in the house of God, with each member having a brotherly love for one another as a spiritual family. As the house of God, relationships are built with a common purpose and a common eternal goal. Members of the house of God share a deeper love for one another because they share the same Father. The world must see the church as a family united together in the love of God. Sibling rivalry is to be expected in the spiritual family, but through the teachings of the Holy Spirit, brethren seek the best in others and strive not to be divided with one another.

The importance of the church is seen when it is recognized as the church of the living God. Human wisdom and reasoning did not create the church as a stopgap or secondary purpose in the mind of God. The church was established in the mind of God before the world was created. Its design and purpose came from the will and purpose of God to show His glory to the world. To suggest the church is unimportant is to deny the will of God. The church of the New Testament is a powerful entity that represents the omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence of the Lord God Almighty. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present throughout time. Through the church, God is glorified and honored. Lessening the church to a fragment of importance blasphemes the nature of a Holy God.

Paul calls the church the pillar and ground of the truth. Embodied in the church is all truth. Through the church, the manifold wisdom of God is seen in its creation, propagation, design, and purpose. Nothing in the annals of human history or the greatest minds of the world could imagine anything as grand and powerful as the church. Truth is older than error, and God establishes His divine truth in the church. The body of Christ is the pillar of truth as the only edifice to hold the true word of God to a lost and dying world. Jesus established the church as the bastion of God’s will against the assaults of the devil. All truth begins with the church of Christ. His word is the only authority. As the foundation of truth, the church must uphold the word of God as the divine authority. Its mission is to carry truth to a lost world, light to a dark world, and hope to a hopeless world.

The church is the house of God, with the Father guiding His family through the Headship of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is His church, as the church of the living God. Truth comes from the church as the pillar and ground of all truth. The church is the most important thing man has ever known because only in the church will salvation be found. Those who are saved are in the church because God adds them to the church. When men refuse to honor the church of the living God, they deny themselves entrance to the ark of safety. In the days of the great flood, Noah built an ark for the saving of his household. Eight people were saved from the wrath of God because they believed in the ark of God, the ark of the living God, and the ark which was the pillar and ground of truth. There was only one ark, and all those not in the one ark perished. The church is the ark of God’s love. Only those in the church will be saved. That’s the pillar and ground of truth.

“Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord … and honor your sons more than Me … his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.” (1 Samuel 2:12,29;3:13)

Three Failures Of Parenting

Little is known about Eli, who served as priest and judge for the people of God before the days of Samuel. His story revolves around other people more than himself. When Hannah comes to Shiloh to pray, Eli takes her actions as those of a drunken woman. She was not, but in a state of grief, longing for a child. God grants Hannah her prayer and gives her a son, Samuel. Hannah presents Samuel to Eli the priest to serve before the Lord. The next story of Eli revolves around his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who served as priests with their father. His sons are known as “men of Belial” (or worthlessness). They would force the people to give them food from their offerings, threatening to use force if they refused. Hophni and Phinehas also seduced the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 

The Bible is filled with examples of good parenting and bad parenting. Eli failed as a parent because he refused to correct his sons and to punish their disobedience. He served as priest for the nation of Israel and did not teach his sons. His role as judge of the people gave him authority to enforce the law, but allowed his sons to be lawless. He would not rebuke his sons. The best he could do was to chide them for their greed and immorality gently. Three things are said about Eli that should serve as a warning and teaching opportunity for all parents. His sons did not know the Lord, Eli loved his sons more than God, and while he saw their actions as reviling to the Lord, he did not restrain them.

Faith in the family begins at home. Hophni and Phinehas were raised by a man who was the judge and priest of God’s people. It seems incredulous that the sons of a judge and priest grew up not knowing the Lord. Eli was more concerned about others than his own family. His sons needed to know about the Lord, but they did not hear that from their father’s voice. He was so busy caring for the people of the land that he neglected his own family. Eli stood before the people as the priest of the Lord, stained with the example of his sons who corrupted the institution Eli represented. As a judge, his authority was tainted as his sons acted in such a lawless manner.

The root of the problem lies in the fact that Eli loved his sons more than God. Hophni and Phinehas could do no wrong in the eyes of Eli. When the man of God came to Eli, warning him of the death of his sons and the curse upon his lineage, he told Eli how he honored his sons more than the Lord. Eli knew that his sons’ actions were evil, but his love for them overshadowed any rebuke or chastening. Hophni and Phinehas knew their father was someone who would never punish them, so they acted wickedly. They acted unrestrained because there was no restraint.

When a child lives without restraint, they will live as they please. Hophni and Phinehas made themselves vile, and Eli did nothing to stop them. He talked them to death. His gentle rebuke fell on deaf ears and wicked hearts. It bothered Eli what his sons were doing, but he took no action. His knowledge that his sons were committing fornication with the women serving at the Tabernacle was an affront to the glory of God. Hophni and Phinehas were proud, arrogant, and wicked men who believed they could do no wrong. They bullied the people to get what they wanted. What Eli did not teach them was the judgment of the Lord. That would come soon enough.

Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and Israel was defeated with the loss of about four thousand men. Distraught over their defeat, the people came to Eli wanting to bring the ark of the covenant into the camp to instill fear in the Philistines. Hophni and Phinehas brought the ark into camp to the loud cheering of the army, causing fear to sweep throughout the Philistine army. So, the Philistines fought and defeated Israel, killing thirty-thousand-foot soldiers. They also captured the ark of the tabernacle and killed Hophni and Phinehas. Judgment day had come to the sons of Eli.

Eli failed as a father, and his example continues today. Parents who do not teach their children to know the Lord will find their children lost in the world without hope. They may be successful CEO’s of great companies, but their soul is lost. Parents who love their children more than righteousness and truth will reap the whirlwind of sin. Blood is not thicker than water. God must come first, and if a child is not serving the Lord, they are lost to divine perdition. Parents who do not correct their rebellious children are setting their children up for a miserable life, believing they are entitled to what the world has to offer. Children must be taught to know the Lord so they can humble themselves before someone greater than themselves. Parents who do not prepare their children for eternity are failures. Ask Eli, the priest and judge of Israel.

Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:21-24)

Children Need To Know

Children need to know about the mighty hand of the Lord. Memorials tell the stories of past events, invoking a message of hope in the power of God to protect and provide safety for His people. When Israel crossed the Jordan River for the first time, God told Joshua to construct a memorial of twelve stones to teach the children the story of how the Lord delivered His people. Crossing the Jordan during the flood stage was a very dangerous and nearly impossible feat. When the feet of the priest, carrying the ark of the covenant, touched the river, the waters backed up, allowing the multitude of people to cross on dry land. This was not a seasonal event or natural occurrence. Only through the power of God were the waters held back.

The crossing of the Jordan River was like the crossing of the Red Sea. God delivered Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, allowing them to walk across on dry land, and when the Egyptian army came into the sea, destroyed them by returning the waters upon them. Children needed to know how mighty the hand of the Lord was. The twelve stones set up in Gilgal became teaching moments for the children. When the children asked their fathers what the stones represented, they would be told about how powerful God was to deliver Israel, giving them the victory over their enemies.

Joshua led the people in the conquest of Canaan. The first city was Jericho, and through the power of God, the city fell to the Israelites. Over the next seven years, city after city fell before the might of the army of Israel because the hand of the Lord destroyed the enemy. Jericho did not fall through the wisdom of man or the might of horses and chariots. The power of God destroyed the great fortified city. Joshua was a mighty leader, but he led the conquest of Canaan, showing the hand of the Lord defeating the people. It was important to tell the children how the cities were destroyed.

Children have natural curiosity. They need to learn many things in life to find happiness and success, but none is more important than knowing God. Parents will spend endless hours and great amounts of money to give their children everything they need, but when they do not give their children God, they have wasted their time and energy. If a child learns how to become wealthy, what have they gained when they die? Popularity is but for a moment and comes to nothing. Preparing children for life and not preparing them for God is an eternal failure. Parents spend their lives giving their children everything to help them succeed. Children need to know about the mighty hand of God. They discover that life is about the will of the Lord and that life is not for their own purpose but for the reason God created them.

Parents have a lot to teach their children. God must be in first place, first priority, and first love. Children who know and love God will find greater happiness in life than those who do not. It begins with the parents. They must learn the meaning of the twelve stones first so they can tell their children. Parents must be in awe of the mighty hand of the Lord first, so they can tell the children how powerful the mighty hand of the Lord is. They must learn that God’s hand holds the universe—the mighty hand of the Lord. Children need to know!

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. (Acts 17:10-12)

Learning Requires Effort

Lee Trevino was a professional golfer regarded as one of the greatest players in golf history. He won six major championships and 29 PGA Tour events with a lifetime of 92 professional wins. Trevino was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. His philosophy about golf is when he said, “There is no such thing as natural touch. Touch is something you create by hitting millions of golf balls.” Trevino knew the value of long hours in honing a skill to be as complete as possible. Winning 92 tournaments did not come by luck or birthright. He put in the effort to achieve the successes he enjoyed throughout his stellar career.

The apostle Paul reminded the saints in Rome that faith did not come by photosynthesis or osmosis. Faith did not come because of nationality, family pedigree, or sitting in a pew. A person was not lucky to have faith. Paul explained that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The Lord has never left the world without a revelation to know His will. In the early history of the world, God spoke to men in various ways by direct conversation, dreams, or visions. The Law of Moses was the written word of God for the nation of Israel. In these last days, God has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ. The completed revelation of the will of God is found in the Bible. There is no other book that reveals the mind of God.

The challenge for man is to understand that the word of God cannot and will not enter the heart unless time is taken to read and understand His word. Faith comes by hearing. That is an act of the will to seek the word of God. Being religious will not bring faith. Acting like a religious person will not instill faith. Sitting in a pew week after week by itself will not cultivate the faith necessary to understand God’s will. A common mistake is believing what someone says without consulting the Bible itself. The faith of an individual stems from their effort to open the book, read, understand, and apply the message to their heart.

Measuring faith is to measure time spent in the word. If a person does not meditate on the word of God, their faith is vain. The more time spent in the word, the greater faith will grow. If there is no time spent in the word, there will be no faith. Hearing the word of God is the basis of faith. It is not miraculous or magical. If more people would read the Bible for themselves, there would be less false teaching accepted as truth.

Searching the scriptures daily is where faith comes. Every child of God must come to know the Father through the word. Like the Jews in Berea, fact-checking Paul took time and energy, but they were concerned enough about what God’s word said; they left no stone unturned. They took the time, put out the effort, and gleaned the scriptures daily to gain greater knowledge. That is how faith grows. Knowledge is power, and that power comes from a steady meditation on the divine word of God. A mind is a terrible thing to waste – a soul without the word of God is an eternal waste. Read the word of God. Study its precepts. Come to know the God of the Bible. He will introduce you to His Son!

Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?'” (Joshua 4:4-6)

Children Need To Know

Children are naturally inquisitive. They want to know why dogs chase cats, where snow comes from, why the sky is blue, how birds fly, where babies come from, and why they must eat vegetables. There are fifty thousand more questions that young minds must answer. Asking questions is the basis of learning and discovering knowledge. God impressed on the minds of His people not to forget about the children learning about Him. When Israel crossed the Jordan River, He instructed Moses to have twelve men pick up stones from the midst of the river. The twelve stones would be a monument to the story of God’s power and glory as He gave them the promised land.

Memorials are important to establish truth. The twelve stones represented the story of Israel and how God delivered them from Egypt and their enemies and gave them the land of promise. Each time someone would pass by the twelve stones, they would know how great the power of God delivered them and blessed them. The twelve stones would also serve as an object lesson for teaching children about God. Moses told the parents of Israel to teach their children in the home, when they walked by the way, when they lay down, and when they rose up. God wanted the people to teach the children to know Him.

The twelve stones represented an important part of the history of Israel to teach children. God wants the children to know His testimonies, His statutes, and His judgments. This can only be done through teaching. Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God, and children learn faith because they are taught to know the word of God from birth. Knowledge does not happen sitting in a room. It takes teaching, reminding, illustrating, and explaining the significance of the twelve stones and why serving God is important.

Parents are concerned that their children receive a proper education (reading, writing, and arithmetic). More than twelve years will be spent on that pursuit. When the child graduates, they may go on to college for more education or pursue some other form of education to find success in life. Tragically, the one education so many children never get is the teaching of the word of God. They grow up illiterate of truth, righteousness, holiness, and grace. Knowing about God is a veneer of knowledge that has no practical purpose in life. Life is filled with things of this world, never preparing for the world to come.

God wants children to know about Him, and parents who fail to teach their children the word of God fail the most basic need of their child. Twelve stones taught children about the will of the Lord. They asked questions to learn the meaning of the stones. A parent cannot teach a child something they do not know themselves. The twelve stones served to teach the parents first and then instruct the child. When that is done, the family is united in a common bond of divine knowledge. Children need to know about God! Learn all you can about the Lord and share that knowledge with your children.